Letters to the Editor Dec. 11, 2012

Tuesday

Dec 11, 2012 at 3:15 AM

To the editor: Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, one of my favorite holidays! Hanukkah means “Rededication.” We celebrate it to commemorate what happened thousands of years ago, when Judah Maccabee and his brothers defeated the great army of Antiochus. The Greco-Syrians oppressed the Jews by not letting them practice Judaism- no Sabbath worship, no Torah study, no holiday celebrating. The point was to Hellenize the Jews. In the Temple, Antiochus decided to build a statue of Zeus in the Temple, and then allowed pigs to be sacrificed in the Temple. That was the last straw. The band of brothers, the Maccabees led a revolt against the Greco-Syrians. As a community, they stood together and fought for what they believed in. They won and then rededicated the Temple to Judaism after it had been restored. Part of the re dedication involved lighting the menorah. Since the Temple was destroyed, oil was low and there was only enough oil to light the candles for one night. However, the candles lit for eight nights.

This year, I was looking at cards in various stores and the messages fell flat. Contrary to what you may read in these cards, Hanukkah is not just about those lights of the menorah/chanukiyah. “Let the lights of the menorah warm your home” does not work for me. This holiday has been watered down. I want to rededicate the holiday by actively thinking about the story told to me and every Jewish person each year. In the story, I find a much more important message than a miracle of candles. To me, the message of the Maccabees is the strengthening of community. By standing together, we are stronger than we would be as individuals. I think about the different communities I belong to; my family, my friends, my co-workers, and I think, “What can bring us closer together this year?” “How am I going to be a better individual so I can make a better contribution to my communities?”

It is the gathering together, the bonding, and the togetherness that made Hanukkah in the first place. Without that togetherness, the Maccabees would not have succeeded so long ago. This year, I am going to do my part to make my family stronger and my friendships stronger. Those supports help me get through every day and every hardship and every happiness because of what ties us together: we love and care for each other, much like the Maccabees loved and cared for each other and their religion.

Taylor Cohen

Newfields

To the editor: Almost every day someone stands by the Staples Plaza in Somersworth with signs asking for donations as they are out of work or homeless. The man I observed the other day had on Nike sneakers, a FUBU sweat shirt and LL Bean backpack. A day later, my daughter and I were going to Dover and saw another man panhandling, the car in front of me handed him some cash; when we returned 20 minutes later, he was gone. We then stopped at Walmart and lo and behold there was the same man buying a case of beer. Last year I saw a man in the Market Basket lot holding a sign that said “will work for food.” He was at least willing to do work for payment. My neighbor said “if they have the time to stand in the same spot for 8 hours begging, they could have been out there searching for work.” Yes it is hard out there but jobs are available, you have to search for them and be persistent. If you really cannot work, then apply for assistance. My question is this: since when is panhandling legal? The Rochester Police report in the Fosters shows dates when panhandlers have been arrested, so why do other police departments do nothing? These panhandlers are a nuisance and how do you know if they are even legitimate? Stop giving these people money as they seem to be spending it on things other than necessities. Refer them to places that are hiring or to HHS if need be but don’t enable them. That’s exactly what they want you to do, begging is easier than working.

Kyle Crouse

Somersworth

To the editor: In the magazine “On Earth” by the NRDC, an article tells us about the environmental struggle going on daily.

Because we have not heard lately about the XL Pipeline, people may think it has gone away! It has not.

In the summer of 2011, the first wave of protesters were arrested and spent three days in the DC jail in handcuffs and leg-irons; 15 or more crowded into a 6x9 foot cell! They slept on stainless-steel plates (no bedding), with only bread and water!

The Keystone XL Pipeline starts by despoiling the land of Canada’s Indian tribes, then cuts through parts of USA where corporate farming has led to depopulation and economic stagnation, then ending in an all-black community in Houston!

This Pipeline has to be one of the worst plans ever proposed for our United States!!! Citizens of our beautiful country must be ever diligent to oppose and defeat any and all proposals that endanger our lands and people!

A quote from a veteran of the environmental struggle urges Americans to act locally: The power of our people is. unstoppable if we use it. This has been proved time and time again.

Thank you for listening.

Patricia Newhall

Barrington

To the editor: I just read a news Article online where the Police in India found a sweat shop where young children were being forced to work up to 19 hours a day making Christmas ornaments to be sold. Some of the children were as young as 8 years old.

To look at the faces of these young beautiful children will make you cry. What kind of a person would do this to a child ... evil person.

I hope that these Christmas ornaments never get sold!

Muriel M. Lucas

Gainesville, Ga.

Formerly of Durham

To the editor: Thank you once agin, for sponsoring the USAF Band of Liberty holiday concert in No. Berwick, Maine.

There is only one way to describe them and that is, they are wonderful!

It is a poor reflection of our government that they cannot produce a budget without slashing the defense budget including the musical traditions. That’s all I’ll say about that!

Thank you again. It was such a pleasure to see so many people enjoying the music.

Susan LeClair

West Nottingham

To the editor: On behalf of the Portsmouth Rotary Club, I would like to take the opportunity to recognize the sponsors and volunteers who made our 41st annual Thanksgiving Day dinner a great success!

Once again, Portsmouth Regional Hospital provided all the food, including 20 turkeys and everything else that goes with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church provided the beautiful venue at the Jarvis Center. Other businesses that provided goods and services to make this all possible include: The Flower Kiosk, Infinite Imaging, Me & Ollie’s, Jumpin Jays and Best Buy. Additionally, again this year, entertainment was provided by Leif and Brandy Gerjuoy and students in the 1st and 2nd grade classes at Greenland Central School decorated our take out bags.

Also vital to our success are our fabulous volunteers. Both Rotarians and non-Rotarians, and in so many cases their kids of all ages, contributed countless hours in preparation and execution of the day’s events. Our volunteers cooked turkeys, baked pies, set up tables, delivered meals, served our guests, washed dishes and performed numerous other tasks.

Finally, to all of our guests, thank you for joining us for a Community Thanksgiving! We enjoyed your company and we look forward to sharing our Thanksgiving with you again next year!